With the review of lifetime employment and the spread of diverse work styles, the option of "starting a business/becoming independent" is becoming more accessible to salaried workers than ever before. Furthermore, while information gathering has become easier due to the proliferation of AI, there are voices expressing concern, such as "I don't know where to start" or "I don't know how to choose a reliable expert," indicating a struggle to take concrete action.

In today's information-saturated era, what are the barriers faced by aspiring entrepreneurs, and what is the reality of mismatches in choosing experts? To address this, Jigyoka Shudan Inc., which operates a startup support portal connecting entrepreneurs and experts, conducted a survey on "Salaried Workers' Startup Preparation and Expert Selection" targeting company employees aged 20s to 40s interested in starting a business or becoming independent in the future.

[Survey Overview]

Survey Title: Survey on "Salaried Workers' Startup Preparation and Expert Selection"

Survey Period: June 29, 2026 (Mon) - June 29, 2026 (Mon)

Survey Method: Internet survey conducted by PRIZMA (https://www.prizma-link.com/press)

Number of Respondents: 1,007

Target Audience: Monitors who responded that they are interested in starting a business or becoming independent in the future at the time of survey response, aged 20s to 40s.

Survey Source: Jigyoka Shudan Inc. (https://www.jigyoka.co.jp/)

Monitor Provider: Sakurisa

Information Gathering Stage is Most Common, Barrier to Moving to Action

First, we confirmed the current status of preparation for starting a business.

When asked, "To what extent are you currently preparing for starting a business or becoming independent?", the most common response was, "I am in the information gathering stage, such as reading books, searching online, and attending seminars (34.7%)." This was followed by, "I am interested in starting a business or becoming independent, but I have not yet taken any concrete action (33.2%)," and "I am building a business model, such as creating a business plan and selecting a target (20.7%)."

Approximately 70% of respondents remain in the "information gathering" or "no action" stages, indicating that only a minority have moved on to concrete actions such as building a business plan or consulting with experts.

While interest in starting a business is high, there may be psychological and physical issues in the process of transitioning from acquiring initial knowledge to taking practical action.

What are the motivations for those interested in starting a business?

When asked, "What are the reasons why salaried workers aim to start a business or become independent?", the most common response was, "I want to decide my own working hours, location, and vacation days (50.5%)." This was followed by, "I want to be free from the constraints and stress of organizational relationships (38.2%)," and "I want to significantly increase my income and build assets (37.6%)."

Voices emphasizing "freedom" in work environment, time, and relationships ranked higher than economic factors like increasing income.

This highlights the aversion of modern salaried workers to organizational constraints and excessive stress.

Economic Risks and Lack of Funds Hinder Action

We investigated the factors that cause hesitation in taking action despite interest in starting a business.

When asked, "What are the reasons why you cannot take concrete action towards starting a business?", the most common response was, "I am afraid of the economic risks if I fail (debt and loss of stable income) (42.4%)." This was followed by, "I lack the 'own funds' necessary for starting and operating a business (36.6%)," and "I don't have the necessary knowledge (legal, tax, etc.) and don't know where to start (34.2%)."

Financial concerns, such as the impact of failure on livelihood and insufficient personal funds, were shown to be major obstacles. Lack of specialized knowledge and uncertainty about where to begin, such as not having a business idea, also ranked high.

In recent years, the means of acquiring knowledge have dramatically changed due to the development of AI technology, but how does this affect the action of starting a business?

When asked, "Do you feel that the hurdle to actual 'action' has been lowered by the spread of AI?", the most common response was, "Information gathering has become easier, but the hurdle to action remains high (46.1%)." This was followed by, "Information gathering has become easier, and the hurdle to taking action has significantly decreased (23.3%)," and "There is too much information, which makes me confused about what to believe and act upon (19.8%)."

Nearly half of respondents answered that the ease of obtaining information does not necessarily translate to the ease of taking action. Furthermore, about 20% expressed that the flood of information causes confusion. While general knowledge can be obtained online, reliable decision-making materials tailored to individual circumstances and objective support may be crucial for making decisions that fit one's own situation.

Close Acquaintances Top the List of Consultation Partners, High Barrier to Consulting Experts

When taking actual action, who do aspiring entrepreneurs seek advice from?

When asked, "Who can you consult with practically regarding starting a business?", the most common response was, "Friends, acquaintances, and seniors who have already started a business or become independent (42.1%)." This was followed by, "Peers who also aspire to start a business (entrepreneurial communities, etc.) (37.6%)," and "Experts such as tax accountants and consultants (29.3%)."

It became clear that people tend to consult more with close acquaintances who have experience starting a business or with peers who are striving together in similar situations, rather than with experts like tax accountants or consultants. This is presumed to be due to the high psychological barrier to consulting experts and the difficulty in finding a suitable expert.

So, when actually requesting support from an expert, what criteria are used for selection?

When asked, "What points do you want to emphasize when requesting support for starting a business from an external expert?", the most common response was, "Speed of response to questions and politeness of correspondence (42.3%)." This was followed by, "Low fees and clarity of the fee structure (41.2%)," and "Deep understanding of my business (industry and business model) (38.7%)."

More than objective indicators such as extensive support experience or qualifications, the quality of communication, such as speed of response and politeness, and the transparency of the fee structure tended to be highly valued. It seems that during the anxious and tight period of early entrepreneurship, a partner who shows deep understanding of one's business and accompanies them with sincerity and speed is sought.

Anxiety that Compatibility Cannot Be Determined from Superficial Information

While there are preferences regarding conditions, what are the barriers to searching for experts online?

When asked, "What do you find inconvenient or concerning when searching for experts online?", the most common response was, "There is only 'superficial information' such as career and qualifications, making it impossible to judge compatibility (42.2%)." This was followed by, "The fee structure is unclear, and I worry about additional costs later (42.0%)," and "Everything is written positively, making it difficult to discern if the achievements are truly reliable (35.5%)."

While online searches allow for comparison of conditions like qualifications and experience, the challenge of not being able to see the "personality" and "compatibility," which are most important in engagement, beforehand was highlighted.

Furthermore, the lack of transparency in fees and distrust of overly positive appeals are also factors that cause hesitation.

The more one researches, the more suspicious they may become, and the sheer number of options may lead to a loop of thinking, "I don't know who to ask."

When asked about "risks you are particularly concerned about in case of a mismatch when choosing an expert," the most common response was, "Wasted funds" due to not receiving advice or support commensurate with the fees paid (57.6%)." This was followed by, "Deviation in direction" due to having one's business direction or vision denied or compromised (43.0%)," and "Time loss" due to miscommunication leading to delays in procedures or business development (36.7%)."

It was evident that aspiring entrepreneurs, who are challenging themselves with limited personal funds, are highly wary of support that does not justify the cost. The fear of having their envisioned vision denied or of losing time and motivation due to communication breakdowns also accounted for a significant portion.

Mismatches with experts are not just procedural failures but carry risks that can affect the core of the business and the motivation to start a business.

To alleviate these anxieties about mismatches, what kind of information is needed?

When asked, "What kind of information would reduce your anxiety about mismatches before consulting with an expert?", the most common response was, "Stance on management and risks (39.7%)." This was followed by, "Support style (36.9%)," and "'How to convey' complex information and clarity of explanation (31.0%)."

It was shown that the expert's "values regarding management" and "support attitude" towards clients directly contribute to a sense of security. Furthermore, qualities such as consideration in avoiding jargon and honesty in communicating limitations, reflecting humanity and communication style, are strongly desired.

Finally, when asked, "If there were a platform where 'reliability' is guaranteed through prior screening and 'personality and values' can be understood in advance, would the hurdle to consulting and engaging with experts decrease?", approximately 70% responded "somewhat decrease" (51.5%) or "significantly decrease" (15.9%).

It is clear that many aspiring entrepreneurs have a positive impression of systems that allow them to understand the personality and values of experts in advance, not just superficial information like achievements and qualifications.

In an era where it is difficult to judge reliability solely from online information, an environment that reduces the risk of mismatches through third-party screening and advance information disclosure could be a factor in lowering the psychological hurdle to starting a business.

[Overall Summary] Overcoming the "Barrier to Action" in Starting a Business: Encountering a Reliable Partner

This survey highlighted the "dilemma of information overload and action" and the "difficulty in choosing experts" faced by salaried workers interested in starting a business. While the development of AI technology has made it easier to gather know-how related to starting a business, nearly half of respondents still feel that the "hurdle to action remains high," revealing that acquiring knowledge does not necessarily lead to the first step in practical action.

Behind this lies not only the fear of economic risks in case of failure but also a strong sense of caution regarding mismatches and the absence of consultation partners, with concerns like "I don't know who to ask" and "I can't discern a reliable expert from online information alone."

Many aspiring entrepreneurs seek more than just administrative assistance or qualifications from external experts. While clarity in fee structures is important, it is evident that qualitative compatibility, such as speed of response, deep understanding of one's business model, and above all, "personality" and "stance on management," are highly valued.

The wasted funds and deviation in direction that can result from choosing an expert with whom one's values do not align are recognized as risks that can undermine the very motivation to start a business.

Against this backdrop, it is expected that the demand for environments where personality and values can be confirmed in advance, going beyond superficial information like career and qualifications, will increase, including aspects like the expert's "support style" and "honest disclosure of areas they cannot handle."

Connecting Entrepreneurs in Their Startup Phase with Carefully Selected Professionals

Jigyoka Shudan Inc. (https://www.jigyoka.co.jp/), which conducted the survey on "Salaried Workers' Startup Preparation and Expert Selection," operates the "Startup Support Portal" (https://www.jigyoka-portal.jp/). This portal connects "people" with "people" through videos, not just information listings, and provides opportunities to meet reliable experts while resolving real-life concerns on YouTube.

[Reasons for Being Chosen by Entrepreneurs]

"Personality" Visible Through Video, Not Just Text

Visualizes the expert's work attitude and actual consultation scenes in a dramatic format, creating truly reliable encounters without mismatches.

Featuring Only Carefully Selected Professionals

Introduces only reliable tax accountants, experts, and support companies that have cleared our unique screening criteria.

Provides an environment where entrepreneurs can confidently select partners.

"People-Oriented" Video Introductions

Visualizes the personality of the consultant and the atmosphere of the office, which are difficult to convey through text and photos alone, through "dramatic videos." Allows for checking "compatibility" before contracting, preventing mismatches.

Packages Support Necessary for the Startup Phase

Offers essential services for the startup phase as a menu, with the slogan "This is all you need to start," providing support to get your business on track in the shortest possible distance.

Direct Contact Without Membership Registration

No intermediary fees or troublesome registration required. You can consult with experts you are interested in immediately.

Startup Support Portal

HP: https://www.jigyoka-portal.jp/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jigyoka

Expert Columns: https://www.jigyoka-portal.jp/column/

[Jigyoka Shudan Inc. Overview]

Company Name: Jigyoka Shudan Inc.

Representative Director: Yumiko Tanabe

Address: Marunouchi Trust Tower Main Building 20F, 1-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Established: October 2024

URL: https://www.jigyoka.co.jp/

Official X: https://x.com/jigyokashudan

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Survey結果
  • Organizations: PRIZMA